Support arrangement for an implement

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a support arrangement for an implement such as a metal detector, the support arrangement comprising a harness worn by a user, the harness comprising an attachment point for a first load-bearing element transferring a load associated with the implement to the attachment point, and a second load-bearing element transferring the load from the attachment point to a further point on the harness.

This patent application claims priority from: Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2012901884, titled “A SUPPORT ARRANGEMENT FOR AN IMPLEMENT”, and filed on May 9, 2012. The entire content of this application is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

For the purpose of explanation this invention will be described in relation to metal detectors, although the invention is not so limited in application.

Various applications of metal detectors involve prolonged periods of use where the load associated with the weight of a metal detector unit is carried by an upper arm, shoulder and upper back of a user, often resulting in fatigue and discomfort of, and sometimes resulting in injury to, the user. In other cases the load associated with the weight of the unit may be sufficient to cause injury during a short period of use.

It is against this background, and the problems and difficulties associated therewith, that the present invention has been developed.

Certain objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a support arrangement for an implement, the support arrangement comprising a harness worn by a user, the harness comprising an attachment point for a first load-bearing element transferring a load associated with the implement to the attachment point, and a second load-bearing element transferring the load from the attachment point to a further point on the harness.

In a further aspect, the invention may be said to reside in a support arrangement for an implement, the support arrangement comprising a user-worn harness comprising an attachment point, a first load-bearing element transferring a substantially vertically directed load associated with the implement to the attachment point, and a second load-bearing element redirecting at least a portion of the load, at the attachment point, substantially horizontally.

In one form, the first load-bearing element is a tension member.

In one form, the second load-bearing element is a compression member.

In one form, the attachment point is at or near a shoulder joint of the user.

In one form, the attachment point is at or near a front of the user.

In one form, the further point is at or near hips of the user.

In one form, the further point is between or near the hips of the user.

In one form, the further point is at a rear of the user.

In one form, the tension member is mechanically resilient.

In one form, the compression member is mechanically resilient.

In one form, the tension member is a tether.

In one form, the tension member is flexible.

In one form, the harness comprises a shoulder harness and a belt.

In one form, the compression member extends from the attachment point to the belt.

In one form, the compression member extends beneath an arm of the user.

In one form, the implement is a tool or metal detector.

In one form, the length of the compression member is adjustable.

In one form, the length of the tension member is adjustable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of this disclosure, it will now be described with respect to one or more exemplary embodiments that shall be described herein with the assistance of drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a user wearing a support arrangement to assist in the support of a metal detector;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the support arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the support arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a tension member from the support arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates an attachment hook from the tension member illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a compression member from the support arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a detail view illustrating a connection point between two parts or sections of a compression member;

FIG. 8 is a detail view of a harness from the support arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are detail views of the tension member from the support arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 11 through 14 are detail views of a support attachment from the support arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are detail views of a first part of the compression member; and

FIGS. 17 and 18 are detail views of a second part of the compression member.

In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, where there is illustrated a support arrangement 1 for an implement 2, the implement 2 being a metal detector.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 8, where it can be seen how the support arrangement 1 comprises a harness 10 worn by a user, the harness 10 comprising an attachment point 12, a tension member 30 transferring a load associated with the weight of the implement 2 to the attachment point 12 on the harness 10 and a compression member 40 transferring this load from the attachment point 12 to a further point 13 on the harness 10.

The harness 10 also comprises a belt 14 and a yoke 16 extending from a back of the belt 14 which divides into a pair of shoulder straps 18 that terminate at spaced-apart positions at a front of the belt 14. The harness 10 is made from a strong webbing material such as nylon, polypropylene or polyester, and the shoulder straps 18 and belt 14 are padded (ie. there is padding provided between the webbing and the user) for the wearer's comfort. Pouches for items may be suspended from the harness 10.

The lengths of each of the shoulder straps 18 and the belt 14 are adjustable by way of conventional adjustment means. The length of the yoke 16 is also adjustable by virtue of being divided into two parts 16 a and 16 b secured to each other by way of operatively associated portions of hook-and-loop fastener material such as Velcro. The length of overlap between the two parts 16 a and 16 b can be decreased to accommodate taller users, or increased to accommodate shorter users.

Each shoulder strap 18 comprises an attachment point 12 in the form of a D-shaped attachment ring that is secured by stitching it to the shoulder strap 18 at a point which will be in front of, and near the shoulder of, the user when the user is wearing the harness 10.

By providing an attachment point 12 on each shoulder strap 18, the tension member can be positioned for either right or left-handed users.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 9 and 10, the tension member 30 comprises a flexible and substantially elastic cord 30 a that extends between the attachment point 12 and the metal detector 2. The tension member 30 further comprises a proximal attachment hook 60 attached to the D-shaped attachment ring (D-ring) at attachment point 12, and is looped to form an eyelet 32 at a distal end. Attachment hook 60 can be released from the D-ring so that the user can put the metal detector 2 down without removing the harness 10.

Suspended from the eyelet 32 is a support attachment 80 (see FIGS. 11 through 14) for attachment to the metal detector 2. The support attachment 80 comprises a length of flexible strap 82 with a buckle 84 at one end, and equipped with a hook-and-loop fastener at or toward an end distal from the buckle 84. In use, the strap 82 is passed around a shaft of the metal detector, through the buckle 84, then the strap 82 is doubled back on itself, tightened, then secured against itself with operatively associated hook-and-loop fastener portions 87 a and 87 b (see FIG. 12). In this way the support attachment 80 creates a secure attachment that is adapted to fit around implement profiles of various shapes. An inner surface of the strap 82 supports portions of rubberised material 88 which improve the grip of the support attachment 80 on the shaft and protect the shaft from damage which may otherwise be caused by tightening the strap 82.

The buckle 84 of the support attachment 80 comprises a hook 86 about which the eyelet 32 of the tension member 30 is disposed.

With reference to FIG. 5, it can be seen how the attachment hook 60 of the tension member 30 comprises a hook body 62 defining a pathway for the cord 30 a that routes the cord 30 a through the hook body 62 in such a way that the cord 30 a is doubled back on itself, and which comprises a cord outlet having a v-shaped cleat 64 in which the free end of the cord 30 a can be pinched and secured. By virtue of this design, the cord 30 a can be simultaneously shortened and tensioned by releasing the free end from the v-shaped cleat 64, pulling the free end downward until the tension member 30 is sufficiently shortened and tensioned, then securing the free end of the cord in the v-shaped cleat 64, thereby maintaining the selected tension.

Below the attachment point 12 on each shoulder strap 18 is a hardpoint 42 in the form of a vertically and downwardly directed connector socket that is stitched into the webbing of the harness and which receives and retains an end of the compression member 40. It is envisaged that this hardpoint 42 may be manufactured by means such as moulding this from a material such as polyurethane plastic.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 15 through 18, it can be seen how, in this embodiment, the compression member 40 is a curved rod-like element of aluminium having adjustable length. It will be apparent, however, that the compression member 40 may be made of other materials, including other metals, plastics, composites and combinations of these.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, the compression member 40 extends from the hardpoint 42 below the attachment point 12 on the selected (i.e. left or right) shoulder strap 18, curves beneath the nearest shoulder and around and near the torso of the user to a further point 13 located on the belt 14 at the back of the user. At this further point 13 the compression member 40 is received and retained in a further horizontally and outwardly directed hardpoint in the form of a connector socket 43, which is similar to that of hardpoint 42 on the shoulder strap 18. The hardpoint is in the form of a connector socket 43 may be manufactured by means such as moulding this from a material such as polyurethane plastic.

The shape of the curvature of the compression member 40 can be varied to suit either of a left or right-handed user. The variable curvature can be achieved by means of the rod 40 being composed of two or more sections 40 a and 40 b, at least one of which incorporates connection means 48 (see FIGS. 7 and 17) so that this can be interchanged with an alternative section to configure the compression member 40 to accommodate the user. Alternatively, two separate compression members may be provided, the user being able to select the one that suits her/him. Through adjustment of its length, the rod 40 can accommodate users of different sizes. A taller and/or heavier user will require a rod of greater length than a shorter and/or thinner user. This adjustment is effected by bolts 46 (see FIG. 6) threaded into one or both ends of the rod 40. By turning a bolt 46 to increase or decrease the extent to which it extends from the rod 40 the overall length of the rod 40 can be selected. More particularly, height adjustment is made by adjusting the bolt 46 which threads into rod section 40 a, and width adjustment is made by adjusting the bolt 46 which threads into rod section 40 b.

The harness 10 accommodates compression member 40 configured for either left or right-handed users by including a hardpoint 42 below the attachment point 12 on each shoulder strap 18, and a pair of oppositely directed horizontally aligned connector sockets 43 at the further point 13 in the back of the belt 14.

In use, the metal detector 2 is suspended from the tension member so that a substantial portion of the substantially downwardly directed load associated with the weight of the metal detector 2 is transmitted, via the tension member 30, to the attachment point 12 on the harness 10, from where the load is transmitted, via the compression member 40, to the further point 13 located on the belt 14 behind the user. A turning moment is created which attempts to force the back of the belt 14 back and away from the back of the user, this rearward force being counteracted by the padding inside the front of the belt 14, which comfortably spreads the load over the hips and across the abdomen of the user.

By integrating the compression member 40 into the harness 10 in the manner described above, the compression member 40 is not unwieldy or obtrusive, and it allows the attachment point 12 for the tension member 30 to be incorporated into and securely anchored to the harness 10 such that the attachment point 12, and an upper portion of the compression member 40, are not about or above the head of the user, where they would be liable to be damaged, obscure the user's view, and present a threat to the user when he/she is excavating, or in the event of a fall.

Moreover, by positioning the attachment point 12 at or near the shoulder joint at the front of the user, common metal detector 2 movements, such as a side-to-side sweeping motion, are not inhibited.

Throughout the specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the words “comprise” and “include” and variations such as “comprising” and “including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and/or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore, the invention should be understood to include all such modifications in its scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A support arrangement for an implement, the support arrangement comprising: a user worn harness comprising an attachment point for a first load-bearing element transferring a load associated with the implement to the attachment point, and a second load-bearing element transferring this load from the attachment point to a further point on the harness.
 2. The support arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first load-bearing element is a tension member.
 3. The support arrangement as in claims 1, wherein the second load-bearing element is a compression member.
 4. The support arrangement as in claim 1, wherein the attachment point is at or near a shoulder joint of the user.
 5. The support arrangement as in claim 4, wherein the attachment point is at a front of the user.
 6. The support arrangement as in claim 1, wherein the further point is at or near hips of the user.
 7. The support arrangement as in claim 6, wherein the further point is between the hips of the user.
 8. The support arrangement as in claim 6, wherein the further point is at a rear of the user.
 9. The support arrangement as in claim 1, wherein the tension member is mechanically resilient.
 10. The support arrangement as in claim 1, wherein the compression member is mechanically resilient.
 11. The support arrangement as in claim 1, wherein the tension member is a tether.
 12. The support arrangement as in claim 1, wherein the tension member is flexible.
 13. The support arrangement as in claim 1, wherein the harness comprises a shoulder harness and a belt.
 14. The support arrangement as in claim 13, wherein the attachment point is located on a shoulder strap of the harness.
 15. The support arrangement as in claim 14, wherein the compression member extends from the attachment point to the belt.
 16. The support arrangement as in claim 15, wherein the compression member extends beneath the arm of the user.
 17. The support arrangement as in claim 1, wherein the implement is a tool or metal detector.
 18. The support arrangement as in claim 1, wherein a length of the compression member is adjustable.
 19. The support arrangement as in claim 1, wherein a length of the tension member is adjustable.
 20. A support arrangement for an implement, the support arrangement comprising a user-worn harness comprising: an attachment point, a first load-bearing element transferring a substantially vertically directed load associated with the implement to the attachment point, and a second load-bearing element redirecting at least a portion of the load, at the attachment point, substantially horizontally.
 21. A support arrangement for an implement comprising: a user worn harness comprising an attachment point; and means for transferring at least part of the load from the attachment point to a further point on the harness.
 22. The support arrangement as in claim 2, wherein the second load-bearing element is a compression member. 